Reports: Artest to sign with Lakers

ATLANTA (SI.com) -- The Los Angeles Lakers are close to reaching an agreement with Houston forward Ron Artest, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Artest, an unrestricted free agent, is expected to agree to terms Thursday after spending the day meeting with Lakers executives.

CBS Sports.com's Ken Berger is also reporting Ron Artest is poised to sign with the Lakers.

"I'm definitely going to L.A. -- to sign, yeah," Artest said. "Lakers, Lakers, Lakers. I'm in L.A. right now."

Artest, 29, averaged 17.1 points per game last season with Houston.